Coconuts Video Games, Dutch Square Boulevard: 1990s 19 comments
Truthfully, I don't remember this place at all. I was walking around Intersection Center the other day, and coming up on the place, I was sure it was a defunct restaurant, probably a Mexican one. I think given the architecture, that probably is the case, but clearly after the restaurant departed, the building had another life as a video arcade.
Of course I could be wrong about that. I think I would remember a video arcade and I don't recall this place (plus it would have been in competition with the one inside Dutch Square), so perhaps the "video games" referred to are console cartridges etc. To confuse my recollection even further, I'm pretty sure there was a music store chain called Coconuts in town during the 80s/90s as well.
Anyone go to this place?
UPDATE: Everyone seems to agree that this was a Burger King, not a Mexican restaurant, and that it lasted into the 90s. I have changed the date on the post title line from 1980s to 1990s
19 Responses to 'Coconuts Video Games, Dutch Square Boulevard: 1990s'
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Dennis
2 Sep 08 at 2:23 am
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I bet it was a video poker place. There used to be a lot of them up and down Broad River.
ChiefDanGeorge
2 Sep 08 at 7:21 am
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That has to be an old burger king. I'm guessing this place must have been popular during the video poker heyday of the 90s.
MR Bill
2 Sep 08 at 8:23 am
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And yes there was a music chain called coconuts.
MR Bill
2 Sep 08 at 8:24 am
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D'Oh! Somehow I completely forgot the whole video poker era. Even staid Forest Acres had a VP operation (amusingly, because the city fathers once vetoed a Chuck E. Cheese in Trenholm Plaza because it had video games)
ted
2 Sep 08 at 9:53 am
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It was a Burger King for years, I ate there on occassion. It was very briefly a video poker joint.
The Coconuts music chain was owned by Trans World Music who also owned Tape World and Record Town. There were two Coconuts, one on Two Notch by Cola. Mall the other is now the Alltell/Starbucks on Harbison
Tom
2 Sep 08 at 10:57 am
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Wow I never heard about the chuck e cheese in trenholm plaza.
MR Bill
3 Sep 08 at 8:54 am
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Well, I probably could have said that better. It was vetoed because it would have had video games -- it never got beyond the proposal stage.
ted
3 Sep 08 at 9:34 am
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When the hideous Richland Fashion Mall opened, there was an arcade in there. I don't remember any outcry over video games. Plus the Godfather's pizza on Forest Drive(now Eric's house of nasty ground beef San Jose) had video games.
I am intrigued over this Chuck'E Cheese revolt.ChiefDanGeorge
3 Sep 08 at 10:54 am
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yeah me too. So how long ago was this?
MR Bill
3 Sep 08 at 11:03 am
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Well, I know it was written up in The State, and their (online) archives go back to 1987. Since I can't find it, I'd say it was before 1987.
ted
3 Sep 08 at 11:26 am
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Are you sure it was a Chuck E. Cheese they were planning at Trenholm Plaza? The chain used to be called Showbiz Pizza. Showbiz had beer but Chuck E. Cheese does not. (Don't ask me why I know this -- it's a long story.)
FirstDennis
3 Sep 08 at 2:43 pm
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Hmm. Could be. They are the same company, and esentially the same concept.
I actually ate at a Chuck E. Cheese in Fayetteville once. Worst pizza I've ever had.
ted
3 Sep 08 at 4:07 pm
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This was a Burger King at least till 1990, after that?????
Joe
4 Sep 08 at 8:49 pm
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It was a Burger King and it was open past 1990. It probably closed when all of the Burger Kings in Columbia closed. The San Jose on Forrest used to be a Pizza Inn, and those where very popular. They where the first "junk food" buffets I can remember.
Hal
4 Sep 08 at 9:16 pm
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OK, everyone seems to agree it lasted past the 80s..
ted
4 Sep 08 at 10:39 pm
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It was video poker, and a Burger King before that.
Mack
30 Sep 08 at 1:53 pm
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Chuck E Cheese is still owned by Showbiz. Or so it said on my paychecks in 1995! It was a Chuck E Cheese and my paychecks were from Showbiz.
Matt
30 Jan 13 at 4:50 pm
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When my son was young, I went to Chuck E Cheese two times, I will NEVER go there again, Maybe if I was paid $1000.00 or more, and it would have to be for 30 minutes or less.
Rick
30 Jan 13 at 6:59 pm
I'm pretty sure that building was a Burger King in the 80s.